Black-tailed Deer Gallery

Blacktails are a subspecies of mule deer that we have here in the Northwest.

Hurricane Ridge

Black-tailed doe in front of the Olympic Mountains in Olympic National Park

Backdrop

One of the great things about Hurricane Ridge at Olympic National Park is the ability to photograph the blacktails against the backdrop of the Olympic Range. This picture was taken in June, when the wildflowers had started appearing amidst the rapidly retreating snow.

Black-tailed buck being hassled by a biting fly at Olympic National Park

Shoo Fly

This buck on Hurricane Ridge was lagging behind several other deer when a large biting fly began hassle it. At first the buck tried casually moving his head and neck, then biting the air trying to catch it as seen in the first picture. When that failed, it eventually decided it was time to leave and bolted off after the other deer.

These pictures were taken in June, so his antlers are still growing.

Paradise

Two black-tailed fawns nibble on huckleberry bushes on the Skyline Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park

A close-up view of a black-tailed deer nibbling on huckleberry bushes on the Skyline Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park

Sunset at the Slough

Black-tailed deer grazing on bushes at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Incisors

Deer have lower incisors but not uppers, so they can't break plants off with their teeth. Instead, they pinch leaves between the lower incisors and the top of their mouth and then pull the leaves off. This doe was part of a group that came out at sunset unlike the Baskett Butte Trail at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge.

[ Home > Wildlife > Mammals ]